Gunshots were fired near a polling booth in Manipur this morning. A 25-second video circulating online shows a commotion and people shouting before two shots are heard in quick succession.
Then a third shot sounds, probably in response to the first two. After this, a volley of gunshots – possibly from an automatic weapon – is heard and the person filming the video takes cover behind a doorway. The rapid gunfire lasts for ten seconds before stopping.
It is unclear at which of Manipur's two seats – Inner Manipur and Outer Manipur – the shots were fired. The Inner seat was won by Thounaojam Basanta Kumar Singh of the BJP in the 2019 elections.
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Basanta Kumar Singh has been dismissed from this seat again.
The outer seat, which is reserved for Scheduled Tribe candidates, was won by Naga People's Front leader Kachui Timothy Zimik, who is again on the list. The NPF is an ally of the BJP in these elections.
The northeastern state has seen intermittent violence since May last year, when clashes between two ethnic communities left more than 200 dead and tens of thousands displaced.
As a result, tight security arrangements have been put in place for the first of the two-phase elections in the state; On April 26, 15 of Outer Manipur's 28 Assembly segments will vote.
READ | Crisis-hit Manipur is all set to vote in phase 1 of the elections
To accommodate displaced voters, the Election Commission has set up special polling booths – 22 in Churachandpur district and 24 in Kangpokpi, officials said.
Speaking to NDTV after the vote, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said, “I am confident that both seats in Manipur will definitely elect a BJP government at the Centre. Yes, Manipur is going through a difficult time, but in the last four and five months there has been peace.” has been restored and that is why we are holding elections.”
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